Outside Money Already Making Its Way Into Governor's Race

CHANGE PAC paid for an attack ad against Democrat Ned Lamont that’s already on the airwaves throughout Connecticut.

The ad plays part of an interview Lamont provided to local radio hosts, Chaz & AJ, and he said “yes,” to a question about whether he would raise taxes as governor.

Lamont says the ad is incorrect.

“I’m the guy that going to reduce the property tax,” Lamont said, referring to his plan to restore a property tax credit that was eliminated in recent years due to budget woes at the state level. “That’s the biggest tax that the middle class pays. That’s what makes it tougher for people to be able to stay in the state of Connecticut, so that attack ad is a false ad. Talk about what you want to do for the state.”

CHANGE PAC has raised $650,000 so far in the 2018 campaign cycle, and has spent $593,000, which includes the most recent attack ad.

The specific donors to CHANGE PAC are unknown, and the group is registered in Connecticut.

The biggest backer, seen at the end of the ad, is the Republican Governors Association, which has donors from all over the country.

RGA spokesman John Burke told NBC Connecticut of the group’s plans, “I’m not able to announce exactly what we will do spending-wise, since that is a part of our strategy, but you can absolutely plan to see the RGA fully engaged in this race until Election Day.”

Quinnipiac Political Science Professor Scott McLean says voters need to expect to see a deluge of ads from super PACs, as they’re known, in an effort to sway the election.

“The thing about Super PACs and outside ads, is that they are experts at knocking down the opposition without necessarily adding anything positive to the other side, so the more these candidates depend on outside ads, outside money and super Pacs is the extent to which this will be a negative race in Connecticut.”

McLean also said voters need to know that outside, or “dark money,” as it’s known, will flow into Connecticut throughout the fall and that’s just a part of politics in 2018.

“We saw it in 2014 like never before, and we’re going to see it again.”